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Main Authors: Nayak, Anoop A., Vinayachandran, P. N., George, Jenson V.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.10571
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author Nayak, Anoop A.
Vinayachandran, P. N.
George, Jenson V.
author_facet Nayak, Anoop A.
Vinayachandran, P. N.
George, Jenson V.
contents The oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) is unique owing to its curious capability to maintain steady dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. In this study, we identify a process by which the oxygen levels in BoB are sustained above the tipping point, using DO and microstructure profiles in the southern BoB and Argo profiles over the entire basin. High salinity core (HSC) rich in DO is advected by the Summer Monsoon Current (SMC) into BoB. Vertical mixing driven by turbulent and salt-fingering processes recharge DO concentration in thermocline above OMZ. HSC identified in the Argo data, also rich in oxygen, can be traced up to 19$^\circ$ N, confirming that HSC is a source of DO and potentially prevents OMZ from moving to the denitrification regime. In changing climate conditions, this might be the only significant oxygen source for the BoB OMZ in the future.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_10571
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Arabian Sea high salinity core supplies oxygen to Bay of Bengal oxygen minimum zone
Nayak, Anoop A.
Vinayachandran, P. N.
George, Jenson V.
Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
The oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) is unique owing to its curious capability to maintain steady dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. In this study, we identify a process by which the oxygen levels in BoB are sustained above the tipping point, using DO and microstructure profiles in the southern BoB and Argo profiles over the entire basin. High salinity core (HSC) rich in DO is advected by the Summer Monsoon Current (SMC) into BoB. Vertical mixing driven by turbulent and salt-fingering processes recharge DO concentration in thermocline above OMZ. HSC identified in the Argo data, also rich in oxygen, can be traced up to 19$^\circ$ N, confirming that HSC is a source of DO and potentially prevents OMZ from moving to the denitrification regime. In changing climate conditions, this might be the only significant oxygen source for the BoB OMZ in the future.
title Arabian Sea high salinity core supplies oxygen to Bay of Bengal oxygen minimum zone
topic Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.10571